Sudan opens $1bn sugar plant in White Nile state

Sudan has opened its much-delayed $1bn sugar plant in White Nile state, as part of its efforts to achieve self-sufficiency and boost sugar exports.

The new plant, known as White Nile Sugar Factory, has an initial white sugar output of 150,000t annually.

By 2013, the facility will have a production capacity of 250,000t, and within the next three years it is expected to achieve its full capacity of 450,000t.

At the launch ceremony, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir said the plant will enable the country to become one of the largest sugar exporters.

The plant, which will receive its water supply from the West Nile river, will produce 140MW of power as a by-product, of which half will be used by it and the other half will be exported to the national grid.

In addition, within two years the sugar facility is expected to produce 100,000t of animal feed and 45 million tonnes of ethanol every year.

Sudan’s Kenana Sugar, which is owned by Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Sudan, holds the largest share in the plant with a 30% stake, while other shareholders include Sudanese firms and two Egyptian investors.

Sudan is planning to set up four more sugar facilities through development loans from India and China, to boost sugar production in the country to more than 2 million tonnes by 2016.

Although the country is one of the largest sugar producers in Africa, it has to import at least 400,000t of sugar every year to meet its domestic demand, and the new facility is expected to end the dependence on imports and bring in revenues through exports.

The move to open the sugar plant is part of the government’s efforts to reduce imports as the country is grappling with high inflation and severe economic crisis following its separation from oil-rich South Sudan in 2011.

---

Image: The new plant, known as White Nile Sugar Factory, has an initial white sugar output of 150,000t annually. Photo: Anton Smirnov.